Arne Slot bemoaned that “so many decisions have gone against us this season” after Liverpool were knocked out of the Champions League by holders Paris St-Germain.
They lost the quarter-final tie 4-0 on aggregate but will believe the result could have been different had a second-half penalty award not been overturned after a VAR intervention.
The score was 0-0 in the second leg at that stage but it was eventually deemed Alexis Mac Allister had not been fouled – although television pundits agreed with Liverpool’s under-pressure head coach that the issue was not a “clear and obvious error”.
“If you look at our season I’m completely not surprised because so many decisions have gone against us this season so it’s not a surprise,” Slot said of the incident.
“For me it’s simple, if the referee doesn’t give a penalty then the VAR would never have overturned it.
“But I’ve seen so many soft penalties given and people say VAR cannot interfere because we see contact. Well, we clearly see contact, but as I said I don’t think it’s a surprise this season because not only in the Champions League but the Premier League so many decisions have gone against us.”
Ibrahima Konaté, the Liverpool defender who was lucky to escape conceding a late penalty in the first leg and who saw another decision overturned by VAR, agreed with his manager: “Last season we had a penalty like that. For me it was a clear penalty. I was just behind the referee at the VAR but he didn’t blow his whistle or say it was a penalty. We have to deal with that but if we get the penalty and score, it’s a different game.”
Slot also highlighted a comment from Manchester City captain Bernardo Silva. “I think it was Bernardo Silva saying they have been very unlucky with referees this season. And I thought ‘oh, if you think that, think about all the decisions that went against us against you’,” Slot said.
Slot will take encouragement from the performance after what he admitted was a “very difficult” week as Liverpool were knocked out of the FA Cup 4-0 by City and lost the first leg of this tie 2-0 in Paris.
“If you look at xG [expected goals] we should have scored two but didn’t score one and that has happened far too often this season,” he said of this game while agreeing the focus was now on finishing in the top five of the Premier League and making sure Liverpool are in this competition next season.
“Of course. That is what we have to play for now in the coming weeks. The good thing is Alex [Isak] is back, well able to make minutes,” he said although there is concern over a serious-looking injury to Hugo Ekitike.
Slot also defended his own position – and admitted Liverpool have to sell before they can buy this summer.
“Much has been said that the club is in a transition. The club has sold eight to 10 players to make money to sign five or so very talented players,” he said.
“We have to sell to buy. We are losing some players on a free transfer. It is a big challenge in the summer but the club has shown this model works. As I said many times, the future looks very good, especially if we can sign players after good players leaving this summer.”